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Dovishness in the minutes of the Fed's July policy meeting softened the US dollar, and gold is climbing back towards a test of key resistance partly on 'stranger and stranger' developments in Washington.

Through a glass darkly, one can just about see the outlines of a possible deal between Russia and the Opec producers. It can be gleaned from snippets of interviews in the media, from the interesting change in the way Russian daily output statistics are being presented, and from employing a bit of common sense (if this even applies to oil markets).

In my view, Russia is preparing for a year-long deal with a daily production ceiling of around the equivalent of 11.2 million barrels/year, effective early next year.

The argument for a deal between Russia and Opec is that the political decision has already been made by president Vladimir Putin and helpfully spelled out in a timely Bloomberg interview in early September. His job has been done and the details have been left to be sorted out by the lower ranks.

As such, September 5 saw the energy ministers of Russia and Saudi Arabia sign a strategic co-operation agreement and sett up a joint oil and gas task force. Russian energy minister Alexander Novak commented at the time that the sides could be looking at a deal to freeze output for three to six months at the level of a certain month within H2'16.

The oil markets did not pay too much attention to this bright new era of cooperation between Russia and Saudi Arabia. There are, however, a couple of signs that indicate some movement beneath the surface...

The first indication is what seems to be an abrupt change in the way Russia's daily oil output is reported by the official Russian energy data service, or CDU. From early September, without so much as an explanation, daily output seems to have been reported on a different basis that is not directly compatible with previous monthly data.

This means that Russian output has apparently increased from just over 10.7 million barrels/day in August to close to 11.2 million b/d in mid-September. It is highly unlikely, however, that Russian production jumped by over 400,000 b/d. Given this, we can only surmise that a wider range of oil-like liquids may have been included in the calculations.

Historically, the Russian energy ministry has reported daily output for crude oil and gas condensate only. Then various agencies (including Opec and the International Energy Agency ) would adjust this number to include other oil-like liquids, including refinery feedstock, additives, and other hydrocarbon derivatives to make the data globally compatible.

Russian annual oil output according to various sources, million barrels of oil equivalent:

Sources: iea.org, opec.org, minenergo.gov.ru, rbc.ru

Judging by Opec's monthly report, the cartel itself seems to have been struggling with the consistency of its Russian output data. Hence, the Russian and Saudi sides might have agreed to use IEA methodology (and data) to monitor Russia's monthly output.

Conveniently for Russia, this methodology gives the highest of all available estimates for Russia's output of oil and other liquids.

Another observation is that IEA, Russia, and Opec broadly agree that Russian output would be broadly flat (or slightly lower) year-on-year in 2017, with marginal fluctuations either way when adjusted for the different methodology of daily output calculation.

This makes it easier for Russia to agree to a deal, as it would effectively mean relatively little in practical terms. Therefore it would not matter if the deal lasts for six months or for a year.

Russian and Opec oil output projects for 2016-2017, million barrels of oil equivalent/day:

Source: opec.org

Russia might be ready for it, but Saudi Arabia would probably want time to hash it out. It is telling that the first meeting of the Russian/Saudi oil and gas task force takes place in October, after the unofficial Opec gathering in Algiers next week.

Discussions within Opec might also take a while, with some observers not expecting a water-tight deal before the end of the year. The best-case scenario for oil bulls is that something concrete would be signed at Opec's Vienna meeting on November 30. The ongoing drop in US inventories might also take some immediate pressure off Opec members.

Meanwhile, a well-placed remark here or there would keep speculators from taking too bearish a view on the price of crude.

Next week's oil summit in Algiers will likely host further talks, but don't

expect a deal announcement just yet. Photo: IStock

— Edited by Michael McKenna

Nadia Kazakova is a specialist on Russia, particularly the oil and gas sector

Thanks Nadia for your article, but could you please summarize for written above. Does it mean strong demand on surplus crude oil output that could support oil prices ..or maybe it means speculative quick popping to exclude 'reducing idea' per se?. maybe it means we'll get empty oil wells for next generations that could trigger a lack of oil? Please clarify. Many thanks.

Hi, My feeling is that Saudis want to a real deal rather than a fudge this time around. I think the demand side would be disappointing over the coming year or two and a production freeze (or more likely an agreement on production ceiling) is a must to keep oil prices at around $50/bbl. If and when the deal is signed, I think it could be more positive for the markets than is currently assumed.

As to mid-term oil supply outlook, I think there is a bit of spare (idle) capacity in the system around the world to keep the market relatively well supplied. Russia has ability to produce at around current levels for 3 years or so (possibly a bit longer) at the current level of capex/technology.

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